Rory McIlroy says he has to be 'selfish sometimes' and take time off to escape from golf

Rory McIlroy admitted on Wednesday that he had been “selfish” in skipping last
week’s World Golf Championship event in China, but insisted his need to get
away from golf “doesn’t make me a bad person”.

Looking after No 1: Rory McIlroy playing in the pro-am prior to the start of the Barclays Singapore Open Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The world No 1 was due to tee off on Thursday morning in the Singapore Open looking for the top-10 performance which could clinch him the European Tour’s Order of Merit title with two tournaments remaining.

He did so realising he had dismayed officials and sponsors by electing to visit his girlfriend, the Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, at a tournament in Bulgaria last week rather than play at the Mission Hills event in Shenzhen.

“It is a big event and it was a tough one to miss,” said McIlroy. “I need those weeks where I can just completely escape from this, from my life.

“I forget where I am, what I do, I’m completely away from it and those weeks are very helpful for me.”

To this end, McIlroy is determined to put his form and his mental well-being before any perceived responsibilities he holds as the best player in the world.

“Managing time is a very important part of my life. It’s something I learnt to do a little bit better last year after the US Open in 2011,” he added. “People want you to do more things and you have to learn how to say ’No’.

“You have to be selfish sometimes and look after yourself. It doesn’t make you a bad person – you can’t do everything, you can’t make everyone happy.

“You have got to put yourself first and foremost and try to fit in the things you want to do. I’m in the fortunate position where I can dictate where I want to play, what I want to do, where I want to go.”

Phil Mickelson is also playing in Singapore and on Wednesday the left-hander added his influential voice to the great long-putter debate.

The game’s governing bodies are on the brink of outlawing the method of putting, which to Mickelson’s mind is wrong.

“I don’t think you can take away what you’ve allowed players to use, practise and play with for 30 years,” Mickelson said. “I think it is grossly unfair. Some amateurs use it and I don’t want to deter people from the game of golf.”